Engine controlling apparatus



March 27, 1934-. J w ALLEN 1,952,229

ENGINE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29. 1932 IIIVI II Jose /2 14 A//en Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES TOFFIGE ENGINE (CONTIBQLLHNGAPPARATUS Jersey Application September 29, 1932, Serial No. $35,426

ii claims. (oi. zen-st) This invention relates to engine controllingapparatus and more particularly to means for inter-relating theoperation and control of the ignition and starting mechanism of aninternal corn- 5 bustion engine. 7

An object of the invention is to provide interrelated control mechanismof the foregoing character=operative to automatically start an internalcombustion engine simultaneously with the ener-- of predeterminedduration, measured from the first moment of stall.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for utilizingelectrical energy derived from the ignition circuit of an internalcombustion engine for the purpose of controlling the time ofenergization and de-energization of the electrical. parts of an enginestarting mechanism. In this connection, a feature of the invention isthe use of a unidirectional condenser elec- 39 trically associated withthe ignition and starting circuits in such manner that energy from theprimary winding of the induction circuit, which is produced by thecollapse of the magnetic field created by the periodic interruptions ofcurrent flowing therein, is stored in said condenser and subsequentlytransferred to an electro-magnetic device exercising an influence uponthe starting circuit.

These and other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of theinvention will appear more iully hereinafter from a consideration of thedetailed description and the accompanying drawing illustrating oneembodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, how-,ever, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and isnot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had primarily for this purpose to the appended claims.

Inthe drawing, p p Fig. l is a schematic representation of the novelinstrumentalities in which the present invention is preferably embodied;and

Fig. 2 is a view in section of one form of condenser suitable Ior use inthe circuit shown in Fi l.

in the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to certain accessoriesof an internal combustion engine, such as a battery 6, or equivalentsource of electrical energy, a starting motor 7, and a spark plug 8constituting one of a series corresponding in number to the number ofcylinders of the engine, a portion of the wall of one of which is shownat 9. The means for producing sparks periodically .across the electrodesof plugs 8 may be of any conventional form, but preferably includes adistributor shown diagrammatically at 12 and 13, the former characterindicating the stationary contacts electrically connected with thevarious spark plugs, and the latter referencecharacter indicating therotating 7a contact electrically connected with the secondary winding 16of the induction coil 17, the said arm I 13 being rotatable with a shaft18 connected in the usual manner to rotate in timed relation with thecam 19 which periodically interrupts the circuit of the primarywinding21 of the induction coil by separating the contacts 22 and 23, thelatter being grounded as indicated at 24, and the former connecting withthe induction coil as indicated by the conductor 26.

To this conductor 26 there is connected a second conductor 28 leading tothe terminal or terminals 29 of a unidirectional condenser 30 which maytake the form indicated in Fig. 2, the opposite terminal 31 of thecondenser being connected 95 to the winding 34 of an electro-magneticdevice 36, and from the winding to the ground 35. Solenoid 36 is shownas having a magnetizable core 37 normally held in the position shown bysuitable mechanical means, such as the spring 38, and adapted to bewithdrawn from such position upon the creation of a sufliciently strongmag= netic fiux coursing through the said core 3'7. As shown, there ismechanically connected to the core 37, and insulated therefrom, acontact plate ll normally bridging a pair of stationary contacts 42 and43, the latter being grounded as indicated at ii, and the formerconnecting with one end of the winding 46 of a second'electro-magneticdevice 47, .also shown as in the form of a solenoid having a plunger 48normally held by the spring 49 in the positionindicatedin Fig. 1, inwhich position the circuit closing contact 51 con nected therewithis'out of engagement with a pair of stationary contacts 52 and 53, theformer of which connects by means of a wire 56 with the positiveterminal 57 of the battery 6, while the latter contact connects by meansof wire 58 with one side of the armature of the starting motor 7, theother side being grounded as indicated at 59. 13.10

Preferably the switch 62, which corresponds to the conventional ignitionswitch usually mounted in a position conveniently accessible to theoperator of the vehicle in which the engine is installed, has in thepresent instance the additional function of controlling the flow ofcurrent to the condenser, as well as to the solenoids 36 and 47 abovedescribed. To this end there is provided an arcuate conducting strip 66engageable by the switch arm 62 to electrically connect the lead 68 withboth lead 69 and the lead 72, as indicated; The lead 72 is shown asextending to winding 21 of the induction coil, and by means of thebranch lead 28 to the condenser 30 and solenoid 36, while the lead 69connects with the solenoid winding 46, as indicated.

As above stated, the condenser is preferably of the unidirectional type,one such type of condenser being shown in Fig. 2, which is areproduction of the electrolytic condenser disclosed in the MershonPatent No. 1,784,674.

Thiscondenser construction is suitable for the present invention in thatit permits the inductive surges resulting from the periodic collapse ofthe magnetic field of the induction coil to be collected on theelectrodes 75 of the condenser, charging the same to a substantialpotential, which in installations thus far made has been of themagnitude of approximately 45 volts when using a condenser of 8 mfds.capacity.

When it is desired to start the engine, the operator throws the switch62 to closed position, thereby electrically connecting each of theconductors 69 and 72 with the battery, In view of the fact that fullbattery voltage is immediately effective across the terminals of winding46, switch 51 is promptly moved to closed position, while the resuitingmagnetic flux through the core 37 of the solenoid 36 is insufficient toopen the switch ll immediately, and a time interval of definite duration(aspredetermined by the electrical characteristics of the condenser andcoils) elapses.

During this interval the switch 51 remains closed by reason of thecontinued energization of the coil 46. This closure of the switch 51causes current to flow to the starting motor 7 and the startingmechanism energized thereby (not shown herein) is effective to startrotation of the engine crankshaft and resulting operation of thedistributor 13, interrupter l9, and other parts of the ignition system,in the usual manner. I

The engine is thus brought into a condition wherein the ignition andcarbureting mechanism become capable of maintaining it in operation,independentlyof any aid from the starting motor 7. De-energization ofsaid motor thereafter occurs (that is, at the end of the predeterminedtime interval required for fully charging the condenser) and the switch41 is opened as a result of the increased strength of the magnetic fieldacting through core 37 due to discharge of the condenser through thewinding 34. Ehis in turn de-energizes solenoid 4-7, permitting spring 49to open the switch 51.

Thereafter, at anytime when an increase in load or decrease in supply offuel causes'the engin'e to stall, thereby discontinuing the periodicinterruptions of the current in the'primary winding, the electricalenergy which has been accumulating in the condenser during such periodicinterruptions drops off correspondingly and soon becomes ineffective tomaintain the coil 34 fully energized. Thereupon the spring 38 becomeselfective to reclose the switch ell and the solenoid 47 is accordinglyre-energized, thereby closing the switch 51, and causing re-energizationof the starting motor 7 and a recranking of the engine, it being assumedthat the switch 66 has remained in the closed position. The resumedoperation of ling system wherein the ignition and starting are under thecontrol of a single manually operable instrumentality, and the saidfunctions are so inter-related as to produce energization anddeenergization of both in proper timed relation.

What is claimed is: a

1. In a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a startingmotor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, saidcircuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted whenenergized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including aninduction coil having primary and secondary windings, means forsimultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignitioncircuit, and means including a second solenoid responsive tointerruption of the current flow through said primary winding todeenergize said first named solenoid.

2. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including astarting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery, an ignition circuit, a single switch controlling the closure ofsaid starting motor and ignition circuits, and means including acondenser operated by' energy drawn from said ignition circuit forrendering said single switch ineffective.

3. In a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a startingmotor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, saidcircuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted whenenergized to close said switch,

an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary andsecondary windings, means for simu taneously energizing said solenoidand closing said ignition circuit, means including a second solenoidoperated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit to de-energize saidfirst named solenoid, said last named means including a condenser whichis first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit andthereafter discharged though the winding of said second solenoid.

i. In asystem for starting an internal combustion engine, a startingmotor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, saidcircuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted whenenergized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including aninduction coil having primary and secondary windings, means forsimultaneously energizing said solenoid and 0105- ing said ignitioncircuit, means including a second solenoid operated by the energy drawnfrom said ignition circuit at the moment of interruption of the currentflow through said primary winding to de-energize said first namedsolenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is firstcharged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafterdischarge through the winding of said second solenoid.

5. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including astarting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primaryand secondary windings, a circuit circuit interrupting device in serieswith said prisaid starting motor energized aitera brief interval ofpredetermined duration, measured from the initial energization of saidignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which isfirst charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit andthereafter discharged through the winding of said solenoid.

6. In a system'for starting internal combustion 1 engines including a,starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery,

,an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary andsecondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series with saidprimary windings, a single switch controlling the closure of saidstarting motor and ignition circuits, and means including a solenoidoperated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment ofinterruption of the current flow through said primary winding forde-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switch ineffectiveto maintain said starting motor energized after a brief interval ofpredetermined duration, measured irom the initial energization of saidignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which isfirst charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit andthereafter discharged, through the winding of said solenoid.

7.. In, a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a startingmotor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, saidcircuit including a normally open switch, asolenoid adapted whenenergized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including aninduction coil having primary and secondary windings, means forsimultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignitioncircuit, means including a second solenoid operated by energy drawn fromsaid ignition circuit to de-energize said first named solenoid, saidlast named means including a condenser which is first charged by theenergy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged throughthe winding of said second solenoid, and means effective upon a completedischarge or said condenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

8. in a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a startingmotor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, saidcircuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted whenenergized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including aninduction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for,simultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignitioncircuit, means including a second solenoid operated by the energy drawnirom said ignition circuit at the moment or" interruption of the currentflow through said primary Winding to de-energize said first namedsolenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is firstcharged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit, and thereafterdis charged through the winding of said second solenoid, and meanseffective upon a complete discharge of said condenser to re-energizesaid starting motor circuit.

9. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including astarting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primaryand secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series withsaidprimary winding, 2. single switch controlling the closure of saidstarting motor and ignition circuits, means including a solenoidoperated by energy drawn from said .ignition circuit for rendering saidsingle switch ineffective to maintain'said starting'motor energizedafter a brief interval of predetermined duration, measured from theinitial energization of said ignition circuit, said last named meansincluding a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn fromthe ignition circuit and thereafter discharged through the winding ofsaid solenoid, and means effective upon'a complete discharge of saidcondenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

10. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including astarting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primaryand secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series withsaid primary winding, a single switch controlling the closure of saidstarting motor and ignition circuits, means including a solenoidoperated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment ofinterruption of the current flow through said primary winding fortie-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switchineffective to maintain said starting motor ener-' gized after a briefinterval of predetermined duration measured from the initialenergization of said ignition circuit, said last named means including acondenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignitioncircuit and thereafter discharged through the winding of said solenoid,and means effective upon a complete discharge of said condenser tore-energize said starting motor circuit.

ii. in a system for starting internal combustion engines including astarting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor andbattery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primaryand secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series withsaid primary windings, a single switch controlling the closure of saidstarting motor and ignition circuits,., and means including a solenoidoperated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment ofinterruption of the current flow through saidprimary winding forde-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switch inefiectiveto maintain said starting motor energized after a brief interval ofpredetermined duration, measured from the initial energization of saidignition circuit.

JQSEPH W. ALLEN.

